College Readiness

What is College Readiness in Mathematics?

To insure your success in the Mathematics program here at Normandale, we need to determine your level of math understanding before you enroll. Math, unlike some other knowledge subjects, builds on previous skills and knowledge levels in order to take the student successfully to the next level.

The Normandale Math department has assembled some tools for students to use to not only begin at the right place, but students can even accelerate their own progress before they enroll at a goal course level.

Accuplacer can determine your initial mathematics placement level, which currently can be as high level as Normandale's Math Pre-calculus or even Calculus I.

Placement can also be determined from national standardized admission tests, such as the ACT, SAT or the College Boards Advanced Placement Program. In other words, if you do well on any of those tests in Math, you may be able to begin your college level math coursework at a higher level.

Due to the, "use it or lose it" nature of mathematical skills, prerequisites must be satisfied in the period of two years prior to enrollment in order to apply.

Placement Testing

All students, even recent high school graduates, should review and study up on their math knowledge prior to taking the placement test. You don't want to start at a level lower than you need to.

Here at Normandale, students start with the Elementary Algebra Test. If you get most of the questions correct, you will move on to the Intermediate Algebra Test. If you get many incorrect answers, you will move to the Pre-algebra test.

After completing your tests, you will visit with a counselor/advisor to view the results and recommendations for registering for a math course.

Students often can get placed below the last math course they have taken because they have forgotten things and have not reviewed adequately.

Therefore:

Reviewing your own math knowledge can save you time and money by not having to repeat a course you have already completed or coursework that you have already mastered.

Pre-Placement Testing Resources

Quick and Easy Reviews:

You can also go to the www.Accuplacer.com site, click on sample questions, and do some review problems offered by the College Board.

If the above sampling seems overwhelming to you, you might want to consider some more in-depth resources to help you prepare for the placement test like ALEKS.

Using ALEKS:

ALEKS stands for Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces. This is a sophisticated online evaluation resource that not only can determine any gaps in your math knowledge but instruct you in filling them in.

It's web-based and it's not free. Most of the lower-level courses hover around $30 and give you up to 6 weeks to run through them (as many times as you'd like during that period as well).

Each review course requires an online code to be entered on the ALEKS registration page. Here are the available math prep courses and codes for ALEKS:

Prep Course

Course Code (copy each half separately to paste into the fields)

Prep for Beginning Algebra:

EC3DX-H3GGH

Prep for Intermediate Algebra:

3KUVR-4D493

Prep for College Algebra:

HUQLV-NTVYG

Prep for Pre-Calculus:

QLWQK-JK6AN

Prep for Calculus:

VXVY9-QCL6U

For new students, go to the ALEKS homepage and click on NEW USER? SIGN UP NOW! Then follow the steps below.

^ The above online courses can be considered a good investment to insure you start your Normandale math program at the right level for you.

For returning students:

Accuplacer placement

Accuplacer tests are commonly used by many institutions to gauge the various academic levels including math, for incoming students. Therefore, there are a variety of places you can take them, including Normandale.

As mentioned previously, Accuplacer scores are just one method to determine a student's readiness for college-level coursework.

The Accuplacer tests are short (~20 questions or less) but comprehensive, covering up to five math areas with this limited amount of questions.

Preparation Outlines

The preparation outlines below should help you decide what areas you would like to brush up on as well as show the skills that are covered at each level. They are arranged in categories that match the Accuplacer placement test rather than Normandale courses. However, Normandale course equivalents (e.g. Math 500) are listed.